Lumus Ltd.

Wi-charge Ltd.

B.G. Negev Technologies and Applications Ltd.

Ben-gurion University of the Negev Research and Development Authority

Eitan Ronen

Ronen Chriki

Yochay Danziger

Ortal Alpert

Lior Golan

Omer Nahmias

Ori Refael Mor

Elad Sharlin

Tsion Eisenfeld

Ran Sagi

Jonathan Gelberg

Alexander Slepoy

Shimon Grabarnik

Victor Vaisleib

Vadim Shmukler

Mordechai Gilo

Yoni Cohen

Naamah Levin

Lilya Lobachinsky

Amir Shapira

Motke Gilo

Edgar Friedmann

Daniel Michaels

Netanel Goldstein

Amiel A Ishaaya

Elad Lavi

Aviv Frommer

Ari Grobman

Eli Glikman

Eitan Baibich

An optical system () for directing an image towards a user for viewing includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) () having parallel major external surfaces () for supporting propagation of an image by internal reflection, a coupling-out arrangement for coupling out the image towards an eye of the user, and a coupling-in aperture. An image projector () includes an image generator () for generating an image, collimating optics () for collimating the image, and an image conjugate generator (). The image projector is coupled to the coupling-in aperture so as to introduce both the collimated image and its conjugate image into the LOE prior to the images impinging on either of major external surfaces. The image conjugate generator may be a second image generator (), or may employ one or more reflecting surface () non-contiguous with the major external surfaces of the LOE.

Compound light-guide optical elements

An optical system employs a waveguide including a first set of partially-reflecting surfaces ('facets') for progressively redirecting image illumination propagating from a coupling-in region towards a second region, and a second set of facets in the second region for progressively coupling-out the redirected image illumination towards the eye of a viewer. The first set of facets includes at least a first facet close to the coupling-in region, a third facet fare from the coupling-in region, and a second facet located on a medial plane between the first and the third facets. The second facet is located in a subregion of the medial plane such that image illumination propagating from the coupling-in region to the third facet passes through the medial plane without passing through the second facet.

Optical system

Examining a light optical element (LOE) may include placing a first slit optically between a projector configured to emit light and the LOE's first major surface and placing a second slit optically between the LOE's second major surface and a detector. Facet parallelism between two facets may be deduced based on a shift of the image reflected from the first facet to the second facet relative to light transmitted normal to the first and second major surfaces through a portion of the substrate not including a facet. Facet refractive index homogeneity or deviation may be deduced based on the light transmitted through the facet relative to light transmitted normal to the first and second major surfaces through a portion of the substrate not including a facet.

Techniques for examination of light optical elements

An optical system provides two-stage expansion of an input optical aperture for a display based on a light-guide optical element. A first expansion is achieved using two distinct sets of mutually-parallel partially-reflecting surfaces, each set handing a different part of an overall field-of-view presented to the eye. In some cases, a single image projector provides image illumination to two sets of facets that are integrated into the LOE. In other cases, two separate projectors deliver image illumination corresponding to two different parts of the field-of-view to their respective sets of facets.

Optical systems including light-guide optical elements with two-dimensional expansion

A device, system, and method are provided for processing an output of a color camera, such that the color camera may be used to measure color uniformity and resolution of an optical system. The processing includes converting an output of the color camera into an XYZ color space using a conversion matrix. The conversion matrix is generated by capturing color images and colorimeter measurements of three different wavelength ranges of light. The processing also includes overcoming the deBayering effect of the color camera to measure a resolution of the optical system using an optical test target displayed by the optical system. The optical test target has a uniform appearance along a direction of homogeneity. The resolution is determined based on a one-dimension image generated by performing a mathematical operation along the direction of homogeneity.

Characterizing optical system performance with a color camera

A light-transmitting substrate has at least two major surfaces and is deployed with a first of the major surfaces in facing relation to an eye of a viewer. A light redirecting arrangement is associated with the light-transmitting substrate and deflects light from the eye toward an optical sensor that senses light, such that the light deflection occurs at the light-transmitting substrate and the deflected light that reaches the optical sensor is unguided by the light-transmitting substrate. A processor derives current gaze direction of the eye by processing signals from the optical sensor.

Optical systems and methods for eye tracking based on redirecting light from eye using an optical arrangement associated with a light-guide optical element

A vehicular head-up display (HUD) for displaying an image to a user of a vehicle having a windshield () includes an image projector () outputting a collimated image and an optical aperture expander. The optical aperture expander includes a light-guide optical element (LOE) () having two major external surfaces (). The image projector () injects the collimated image so as to propagate within the LOE by internal reflection at the major external surfaces. The LOE also has a set of parallel partially-reflecting internal surfaces () which progressively couple out the image illumination from the LOE. The optical aperture expander is deployed such that the image illumination coupled-out of the LOE () follows a light path including a reflection from a surface associated with the windshield () of the vehicle so as to be visible to the user while the user looks at a scene beyond the windshield.

Vehicle head-up display (HUD)

An optical device includes a first waveguide, having parallel first and second faces and parallel third and fourth faces forming a rectangular cross-section, that guides light by four-fold internal reflection and is associated with a coupling-out configuration that couples light out of the first waveguide into a second waveguide. The first or second face is subdivided into first and second regions having different optical characteristics. The optical device also includes a coupling-in configuration having a surface that transmits light into the first waveguide. The surface is deployed in association with a portion of the third or fourth face adjoining the second region such that an edge associated with the surface trims an input collimated image in a first dimension, and a boundary between the first and second regions trims the input collimated image in a second dimension to produce a trimmed collimated image that advances by four-fold internal reflection.

Optical aperture multipliers having a rectangular waveguide

An optical system may include (a) a light-guide optical element (LOE) formed from transparent material and having at least first and second mutually-parallel major external surfaces for supporting propagation of an image by internal reflection at the first and second major external surfaces, the LOE having a coupling-out arrangement for coupling out the image towards an eye of the user, the LOE having a coupling-in arrangement; and (b) an image projector comprising an image generator for generating an image and an image conjugate generator for generating a conjugate image, the image generator and the image conjugate generator disposed such as to project the image and the conjugate image, respectively, from directions not directly in front of the LOE.

Independent conjugate image generation optical systems

Disclosed herein is an optical assembly for generating a color image using white light as source. The optical assembly includes a broadband white light source array, a color filter assembly configured to allow selectively filtering therethrough light in each of three additive primary colors, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to actuate light sources in the light source array according to three intensity maps. Each of the intensity maps corresponds to one of the three additive primary colors. The control unit is further configured to synchronize operations of the light source array and the color filter arrangement such that, when light sources in the light source array are actuated according to one of the three intensity maps, the color filter arrangement filters therethrough light at the additive primary color to which the intensity map corresponds.

Generation of color images using white light as source

An image projector with a high optical efficiency projects an image at an arbitrary distance from an observer. The image projector includes an illumination module having at least one spatially coherent light source; a phase image generator with an array of optical phase shifting elements; an electronic image controller connected electrically to the phase image generator; and a waveguide which includes at least one embedded partial reflector. The waveguide may be positioned either between the illumination module and the waveguide, or between the waveguide and the observer. The phase image generator may include phase shifts for canceling speckle, correcting optical aberrations, and/or compensating interference caused by light rays having different optical path lengths.

Image projector using a phase image generator

A first dichroic beamsplitter is deployed in a first prism on a plane oblique to a light-wave entrance surface. A second dichroic beamsplitter is deployed in a second prism on a plane oblique to a light-wave entrance surface such that polarized light in a first polarization state relative to the first dichroic beamsplitter is in a second polarization state relative to the second dichroic beamsplitter. The first dichroic beamsplitter transmits polarized light of a first color in the first polarization state relative to the first dichroic beamsplitter, and reflects polarized light of a second color in the first polarization state relative to the first dichroic beamsplitter. The second dichroic beamsplitter transmits polarized light of the first and second colors in a second polarization state relative to the second dichroic beamsplitter, and reflects polarized light of a third color in the first polarization state relative to the second dichroic beamsplitter.

Optical devices and systems with dichroic beamsplitter color combiner

Optical sample characterization facilitates measurement and testing at any angle in a full range of angles of light propagation through an optical sample, such as a coated glass plate, having a higher than air index of refraction. A rotatable assembly includes a cylinder having a hollow, and a receptacle including the hollow. The receptacle also contains a fluid with a known refractive index. An optical light beam is input normal to the surface of the cylinder, travels through the cylinder, then via the fluid, to the optical sample, where light beam is transmitted and/or reflected, then exits the cylinder and is collected for analysis. Due at least in part to the fluid surrounding the optical sample, the optical sample can be rotated through a full range of angles (±90°, etc.) for full range testing of the optical sample.

Optical sample characterization

A light-transmitting substrate has parallel surfaces deployed with a first of the parallel surfaces in facing relation to an eye. An optical element is associated with the first surface and applies optical power to incident light of a first type so as to collimate the incident light, and applies substantially no optical power to incident light of a second type. An optical coupling configuration is associated with the substrate and is configured for coupling-in a proportion of collimated light of the first type incident on the first surface so as to propagate within the substrate, and for coupling-out a proportion of light of the second type propagating within the substrate. Optics associated with the substrate convert collimated light of the first type into converging beams of light, which are sensed by an optical sensor. A processor derives current gaze direction of the eye by processing signals from the optical sensor.

Apparatus and methods for eye tracking based on eye imaging via light-guide optical element

A display for providing an image to an eye of an observer is disclosed. An image generator provides image illumination corresponding to the image to a substrate having mutually-parallel major external surfaces for propagation within the substrate. An intermediate optical arrangement including at least one astigmatic optical element directs the image illumination from the image generator so as to propagate within the substrate in a first in-plane direction by internal reflection. A reflective optical arrangement having cylindrical optical power reflects the image illumination so as to propagate in a second in-plane direction by internal reflection. A coupling-out arrangement couples out the collimated image illumination towards an eye of an observer. The intermediate optical arrangement includes an element deployed to generate a corrective optical aberration that at least partially cancels out with a characteristic aberration introduced by the reflective optical arrangement.

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Rehovot, Israel

Eitan Ronen